Should Turkey Invade Iraq?

[PAO_HELLAS]

Can i ask something? Why are you greeks getting involved?


I don't get this, is this thread only for Turks and it is forbidden for any others to comment and express their opinion?

Are there any threads like this in SFN at all? If that's a new rule I am not notified about it, notify me.

[aslanlar]

Ok let's say Tukey does have balls and tell the US to f it's self! What will you do when the US offers arms to Armenia, Jordan, Iraq (North and South), and Azerbajan for access to thier bases? What will Turkey do when your next shipment of arms from the US is cancelled!?? You are MUCH more dependant on the US than the US is dependant on Turkey!!!! If it wasn't for the US and UK Northern Cyprus would have been part of Greece since WWI!!!!! What would you have done IF Pres Wilson and the UK stopped backing Greece in 1921?????? Remember Atatturk has BIG time help from Stalin! Face you are the US' BITCH!

What will Turkey do go the Iran or Russia???? Russia has been courting Greece and now Greece has that pipline goming to it! Maybe Iran but what happens when oil drops down or when the US is forced to go to Ethinol and stopps using MId East oil as much! Mark my words Oil will drop dwon after Bush is gone! Iran will no longer have the Oil money to act tuff with!

Do you honestly thing the US will go to them lengths in order to stop our invasion of Iraq?
Please, stop trying to sound stupider then you are :lol:

[el Turco]

I don't get this, is this thread only for Turks and it is forbidden for any others to comment and express their opinion?

Are there any threads like this in SFN at all? If that's a new rule I am not notified about it, notify me.

no, but sticking your(not yours :)) nose into things you have no idea about, drives other people crazy.

and, i would be so much happier if every other person would express their opinion as maturely as you do. :)

[Cihangir]

Panathinaikos2: You're so liberal that you (intentionally or, at least i hope, unintentionally) support the Kurd uprising "through" a "terrorist" organization such as PKK. Kurds rebelled in 1925, 1930, 1937 and 1938 and again in 1984 and on but i don't remember them telling the Turkish Government, "gentlemen we want to seperate" or "we want autonomy." I don't know how old you are but it was-BOOM-terror from day 1. Everytime we hear something related to Kurds on the radio or TV, we know that there is terror, and we see there is terror. Why is it like that? Why a nation is so deeply identified with terrorism? I know one answer to that. They must be supporting it. If a nation's representatives can not (or decide not to, rather not) come up with a decent, normal and reasonable proposition, is it a must to cause terror over innocent people?
What is more, if they are not comin up diplomatically there is an outside interferance. And everybody knows exactly who they are and it's a whole another story.
I don't want to classify people but Greeks are so fond of this cultural heritage thing which is starting to seem funny in this era we live in. We live in today so we have got to talk in terms of today. Just because Kurds were there before us does not make them the "land's rightful owners" and certainly does not give them the right to protest through terrorism. We have won that land in 1071 and since then Turks are running it, protecting it and dying for it. Not them. So this makes Turks the land's rightful owner. Cultural heritage is something to respect but it's silly to run an argument over it because time eventually changes. Who knows what kind of a world we will have after 4000 years huh? Maybe Greater Greece? Lol just kidding. :p

So ask yourself as a liberal or at least as a sane parson. Are you defending terrorism or are you against it, like fascism?

[poutismalakas]

Do you honestly thing the US will go to them lengths in order to stop our invasion of Iraq?
Please, stop trying to sound stupider then you are :lol:
Please stop provoking me by calling me stupid;)

ALL I said was that IF Turksy was big and bad as all of chaim they are and told the US and Bush to take a flying F that is WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!!!! I don't overestimate your friendship/standing with the US! The only reason why you have been allies with the US is because your where the only stable, western friendly Muslim Nation! And with your government going more socalled Islamist do not be too surprise IF the US is prepping Jordan or Iraq as the new US ally!? Maybe that is WHY Turkey is saber rattling????

[aslanlar]

Again, nothing like that looks likely in the near future. Yes our friendship is because we're a loyal Muslim country in an important area. Since the Korean War, we've had good relations with them though..

If anything, for the time being, US will curb into helping Turkey. This is logical. They don't have Iraq or Jordan, only Turkey (and Israel) at the moment. Read what happened monday and what Bush said.

[SiN]

Do you guys remember recently some 190,000 machine guns that the USA say went "missing"?. The US only said this AFTER Turkey exposed that the PKK were using those guns against Turkish soldiers. My question to anyone would be, "How the ***K can 190,000 guns go missing?" If it were about 40, then you could say some US soldier(s) was doing some back handed cash deals, but 190,000 - come on! Anyway, someone mentioned that the PKK are better adapted in the mountainous terrains. So what?, hit them with precisive air strikes. Yes, ok in any combat you are likely to lose numbers of your own men, but those soldiers know that in any combat you could live or die, therefore its a duty.

[mert91]

Turkey have a chance to potentially wipe out a terrorist organization in little more then a month and we arent doing this because of what the US and the EU will think of us? Thats pretty stupid, since when do we care what the world thinks of us, didnt stop us invading cyprus so why should it stop us now?

[PAO_HELLAS]

Turkey have a chance to potentially wipe out a terrorist organization in little more then a month and we arent doing this because of what the US and the EU will think of us? Thats pretty stupid, since when do we care what the world thinks of us, didnt stop us invading cyprus so why should it stop us now?

They did not stop you invading Cyprus, they forced you to do it, as they were the ones behing everything (USA, NATO and Kissinger's Zionist company).

About Northern Iraq it isn't the same, because a generalized invasion there goes against the interest of Uncle Sam.

[aslanlar]

We're not invading Iraw because of we don't want Kurdish nationalism to occur within the Kurds of Turkey. We are their 'muslim brothers' (ahem)...

Mert91, if it was as clear as you made it out to be, we would of invaded long ago, no matter the US interests. Also, the EU won't condemn us because they, like the US and Turkey, see the PKK as a terrorist organization.

[Saraj Fanático]

So what if the US is the world policeman. What will they honestly do if we invade? Nothing looks to be the most likely answer.

And Turks have owned/occupied/lived in that territory for the past 1000 years, what's your point. The kurds don't even have a sence of nationality, otherwise, there would be a Kurdistan in 1919 when France proposed it. But no, they preffered to be under Turkey and Ataturk (who although nationalist, was officially working under the caliph).

Yes the risk of invading Iraq is high, but that has nothing to do with the US. The pkk has no chance against us. The only hope they have, is to create nationalism within Turkey and Iraq of Kurdish people, which is what they hope will happen when we invade. That's why not a full scale invasion, but air strikes and small military operations would be the best bet.

Dude like I said, Turkey is a powerful nation. Perhaps the most powerful of the Islamic world. But all that power runs on US shipments. Militarily-wise mostly. Actually, it has everything to do with the US. Like I already explained the US cannot take another battlefield being set up in Iraq, especially to the North of all places. The US can do everything from stopping shipments to Turkey and possible sanctions. Its their oil down there that they refuse to lose and they will go the extra mile to keep it pumping the United States. At all costs. Again, I support the Turks and wish they deal with the PKK but realistically speaking, while the US has a foot in Iraq, it won't happen.

[aslanlar]

Definately the most powerful of the Islamic world.

Our army is strong and modern as it is. The war (if it occured) would be short and there would be no need for US relliance. If it were against a stronger nation, things may change.

Yes the US has the power to cripple Turkey. But it won't happen over the PKK.

[Bosnian Unit]

Definately the most powerful of the Islamic world.

Our army is strong and modern as it is. The war (if it occured) would be short and there would be no need for US relliance. If it were against a stronger nation, things may change.

Yes the US has the power to cripple Turkey. But it won't happen over the PKK.


I would not agree on that, since i belive Pakistan and Iran have strongest military in the Islamic world.

Pakistan recived 11 billion in last 5 or so years from USA in aid, and half of that went in their military budget, and its not a secret that half of their GDP goes into military budget. Let alone their nuclear weapons etc..

Iran is #2 !

Even Saudi Arabia is stronger then Turkey, they have trillions on their hands and all those deals with USA, and above all that modern military...every year they invest in their military 31 billion US dollars, comparing to Turkeys 10 billion.

[PAO_HELLAS]

I would not agree on that, since i belive Pakistan and Iran have strongest military in the Islamic world.

Pakistan recived 11 billion in last 5 or so years from USA in aid, and half of that went in their military budget, and its not a secret that half of their GDP goes into military budget. Let alone their nuclear weapons etc..

Iran is #2 !

Even Saudi Arabia is stronger then Turkey, they have trillions on their hands and all those deals with USA, and above all that modern military...every year they invest in their military 31 billion US dollars, comparing to Turkeys 10 billion.

I don't know about Saudi Arabia, but Iran and Pakistan have definately strongest miliaties than Turkey. I also agree with your classification with nuclear Pakistan being first power of the Islamic world.

[aslanlar]

Ok, well excluding Nuclear weapons, Turkey is above, otherwsie it's unfair :D.
Thank you on the news about Saudi Arabia, i was quite unaware about that.

[Cihangir]

Nuclears are cheating in a way. Don't you think. :P

Nah, nukes are totally unfair. Plus it's horribly dangerous and ridiculously unnecessary.

[Cihangir]

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v130/81/88/575350049/n575350049_639340_3147.jpg

Turkish pride worldwide!

[Saraj Fanático]

Definately the most powerful of the Islamic world.

Our army is strong and modern as it is. The war (if it occured) would be short and there would be no need for US relliance. If it were against a stronger nation, things may change.

Yes the US has the power to cripple Turkey. But it won't happen over the PKK.


My friend its more complicated then that. Some people here are writing 'hey lets go in and just destroy their bases, kill them all, and capture them' but didn't the US do the same thing in Iraq? And look where they are now! They are facing a deadly insurgency even tho they whipped out Saddam's entire military. War always has an after effect (Examples like Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq). So what makes you sure the Turks won't face a possible Insurgency down in Northern Iraq? One which can very easily leak over to the list of US problems. Heck you can bomb everything the PKK possesses but they will retaliate with Guerrilla warfare. And attacks against Turks will rise.

US won't cripple Turkey over the PKK, but rather for the oil.

[aslanlar]

US won't cripple Turkey over the invasion of Iraq.

The PKK are much smaller then what the US army is facing. It would be impossible to 'shut down' the entire PKK, but it would be possible to restrict them to having no authority. That would/should be the aim of the Turkish army. Unlike the US in Iraq or Soviets in Afghanistan, we're just trying to shut down a terrorist organization. Not change an entire country.


By the way Cihangir, GREAT PICTURE... I really love it, it's fantastic!

[Cihangir]

Yea man it's glorious.

"Being a Turk must be something like this."

[SiN]

There has been more fighting on the border, this time PKK Terrorists got through the border and shot dead a soilder, apparantley he was ambushed but he did not give up easily he shot back until his last bullet left his clip. Now thats what i call a Turkish Soilder.

As the days past, we are getting more closer to a ivasive attack on PKK Checkpoints.

[Fenerliyim]

haha the saudis have a better army than turkey, now honestly thats just ridiculous.

Turkey has the strongest army in the middle east, and forget that we are probably in the top 5 in the world.

If u dont believe me go search on google for the military forums and usually most have a thread on which muslim country has the best military and most of these guys are military men who know pretty much everything there is needed to know about militaries.

[SiN]

Exactly :)

[PAO_HELLAS]

we are probably in the top 5 in the world.


In the Muslim world, definately.

[Bosnian Unit]

haha the saudis have a better army than turkey, now honestly thats just ridiculous.

Turkey has the strongest army in the middle east, and forget that we are probably in the top 5 in the world.

If u dont believe me go search on google for the military forums and usually most have a thread on which muslim country has the best military and most of these guys are military men who know pretty much everything there is needed to know about militaries.


Please..........

Someone(Saudis) who invest in their military 21 billion (US dollars) a year more then you do, you are laughing at. Now that is ridiculous!

And about 5th in the world :lol: , i wish bro' but its not even close.

Hmm lets see...

1.USA
2.China
3.Russia
4.UK
5.India
6.France
7. Zion
8.Japan
9.North Korea
10.South Korea
11..
12...
etc...

You where probably refering to number of ACTIVE TROOPS when you said 5th in the world.........in that case Burma is 12th but in reality is not even close.

We are talking about modern technology and nuclear weapons, wich are huge power in political world.

[Fenerliyim]

Please..........

Someone(Saudis) who invest in their military 21 billion (US dollars) a year more then you do, you are laughing at. Now that is ridiculous!

And about 5th in the world :lol: , i wish bro' but its not even close.

Hmm lets see...

1.USA
2.China
3.Russia
4.UK
5.India
6.France
7. Zion
8.Japan
9.North Korea
10.South Korea
11..
12...
etc...

You where probably refering to number of ACTIVE TROOPS when you said 5th in the world.........in that case Burma is 12th but in reality is not even close.

We are talking about modern technology and nuclear weapons, wich are huge power in political world.


First off Japan doesnt even have something close to an army, after WWII it was dissolved for a long time, their army right now has so many restrictions its not even funny but they are very advanced in technology but imho they are not a big threat and S.Korea is no where near a world power.

And french army is nothing to be afraid of.

And N.Korea, on the possibility they have nuclear weapons? For Turkey to get a nuclear weapon it would take 1 knock on the door of isreal and we'll have all we need.

To me it looks like ur just assuming that who ever spends the most money has the strongest army.

Here are links:

http://www.globalfirepower.com/ It Ranks Turkey 8th in the world in terms of strength

and here is http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/howtomakewar/databases/armies/e.asp

which ranks Turkey 3rd in Europe after Russia and the UK

IMHO its

USA(Isreal)*
Russia
China
UK
Germany
Turkey
India
France
Japan
Brazil


* I consider USA and Isreal as 1 thing, cause without USA there is no Isreal and vice versa

[aslanlar]

Germany is above Turkey, even though it doesn't have an army? (ok, i'm not including the the men working for the EU).

[Fenerliyim]

December 2, 2007
Turkey Says It Attacked Kurdish Fighters in Iraq
By SABRINA TAVERNISE and STEPHEN FARRELL
ISTANBUL, Dec. 1 — The Turkish military said Saturday that it had inflicted “significant losses” on a group of Kurdish guerrillas in Iraq, though it offered no evidence for its claim.

In a terse, vague statement on its Web site, the military said it had identified a group of 50 to 60 fighters just across the border in Iraq, and that it had carried out “an intensive operation” against them.

Reuters cited an unidentified Turkish military official as saying that about 100 Turkish special forces had entered northern Iraq, struck the fighters and returned. The official military statement, however, gave no indication that troops had crossed the border. Iraqi officials denied any incursion had taken place.

A Turkish member of Parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party indicated that the attack was part of a series of artillery strikes against rebel positions along the border that have been going on for months, and not the large-scale offensive that the American and Iraqi governments had feared.

“It’s not an invasion or a war in northern Iraq,” said the member of Parliament, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the developments. “This is just a limited operation for the moment.”

Turkey has been threatening to send its military into northern Iraq to attack fighters from the group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which is based in both countries. The group has fought the Turkish military for decades over demands for an autonomous Kurdish region there.

But a major incursion is viewed as unlikely, in part because it would require Turkey, a NATO member, to directly go against the United States, a strong ally.

The Turkish military said it would use “other means” in the future, if required.

The United States military in Baghdad said it had no “operational reports” of a Turkish incursion. Haval Zagros, a PKK spokesman, denied that the Turks had entered Iraqi territory or fired at its positions.

“There have been no clashes between the PKK and the Turkish army,” he said. “Today, none of our bases has been struck by Turkish forces.”

Mohammed Amidi, a spokesman for the Kurdish Democratic Party, one of the main parties in the Kurdish regional government, and Col. Hussein Rasheed, the commander of the Iraqi border protection forces in Dohuk Province, both denied news media reports that Turkish special forces had crossed the frontier.

The operation came a day after the Turkish cabinet granted final permission to the military to launch a cross-border operation. The authorization was largely a formality, but a Turkish government official said it gave the final green light for a full-fledged operation into Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iraqi politics were thrown into further disarray on Saturday when the largest Sunni Arab bloc, the Iraqi Consensus Front, walked out of Parliament to protest what it described as a move by Iraqi security forces to place its leader, Adnan al-Dulaimi, under house arrest.

The walkout came after Iraqi and American forces found a car bomb outside Mr. Dulaimi’s compound in Baghdad. American and Iraqi officials said the keys to the vehicle carrying the explosives were found on one of his bodyguards. More than 30 people, including the politician’s son, were detained. Mr. Dulaimi denied that he or his employees were involved in the car bombs.

Dr. Saleem Abdullah, a spokesman for the Iraqi Consensus Front, known as Tawafiq, said Saturday that the group would boycott parliamentary sessions until Mr. Dulaimi was released.

Ali al-Dabbagh, a government spokesman, denied that Mr. Dulaimi was under house arrest. The United States military in Baghdad said Friday that Iraqi forces had asked Mr. Dulaimi to remain in his residence half a mile from the compound “for his own personal safety.”

In Diyala, dozens of gunmen belonging to Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia attacked the village of Dwelah, burning down houses and killing 13 people, including four children and three women, Iraqi Army commanders said.

It was the second such attack on the Shiite village after its Tamimi tribe refused demands earlier this year to swear loyalty, pay tribute and supply fighters for Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, an Iraqi militant group that American intelligence sources say is foreign led.

Also on Saturday, Rassim al-Jumaili, one of Iraq’s most popular comedians, died in Syria from a heart attack at the age of 69. Mr. Jumaili’s most high-profile recent role was as a sarcastic dictator in a series called “The Leader.” Screened during Ramadan, it was widely taken to be a criticism of the chaos of postwar Iraq.

Mr. Jumaili had fled to Syria in 2003.



...

[nb-legenda]

No, because this would cause a domino effect and if we do, we ruin relations with Iran and Iran is like Turkeys best friend and where they decended from and they were both Persian empire.

[Panathinaikos2]

Any news?

[aslanlar]

Iran is like Turkeys best friend??? Excluding recent times, when have the arabs ever liked Turks? :P
Plus, Iran, like every other country, don't like the kurds. Pretty much the biggest barrier that Kurdistan is facing- no support.

[Centarfor9]

allah is on kurds side

[SiN]

allah is on kurds side

:boo: :mad2: :yell:

[PAO_HELLAS]

Iran is like Turkeys best friend??? Excluding recent times, when have the arabs ever liked Turks? :P
Plus, Iran, like every other country, don't like the kurds. Pretty much the biggest barrier that Kurdistan is facing- no support.

Arabs are not more than the 5% of Iran's population :D.

Turkey and Iran have made many trade agreements, but I would not say their relation is ideal. The incidents of the 80s when the Turks thought that Iran is Greece and they tried to violate their FIR, were the most suitable to create "good relations".

[aslanlar]

True but i relate Iran and the Arabs quite closely :D not exactly ethnically correct, but it'll do :D

[Fenerliyim]

No, because this would cause a domino effect and if we do, we ruin relations with Iran and Iran is like Turkeys best friend and where they decended from and they were both Persian empire.

puhaha y would it ruin relations with Iran, they hate the PKK as much as us, and wat the hell r u talking about, we didnt decend from the persians.

[nb-legenda]

^ theyre a mix of persian genetics. they have other things mixed in just like in Mexico, most people are part Spanish and part native Mexican

[poutismalakas]

^ theyre a mix of persian genetics. they have other things mixed in just like in Mexico, most people are part Spanish and part native Mexican
Actually Turks of Turkey are a mixture of Steppe/Mongol Turk, Greek, Armenian, Kurdish, Slavic and Arab. Im sure some Turks have Persian blood but I think for the most part they are products on the Inhaditants Asia Minor and the Balkans?

[Centarfor9]

:boo: :mad2: :yell:
:boo: :mad2: :yell:

[el Turco]

allah is on kurds side

:faint2:

[Centarfor9]

^ if 'nobody is Kurds side' then 'Allah is on Kurds side'

they have suffered too much already

I have compassion for Kurdish people and I hope they don't suffer any more - hope you understand that.

[SiN]

:lol: You obviously know nothing about this topic Sinter. What have the kurds suffered? Please tell me? They are nomadic people, they do not stay in one place all the time. There are millions of Kurds living in Turkey, some of them enjoying life much more than being out there in between Turkey and Iraq. Most of them are living better than original turks themselves. If anyone has suffered it is the turkish people living on these border lines from constant attacks from pkk terrorists. If anyone has suffered it is the brave turkish army men and women who risked there lives for there country and there families who cry and scream when they hear the news of there sons that got murdered by the pkk terrorists.

how can u say allah is on kurds side? that is a ***king stupid comment. what do u mean nobody is on kurds side? there are only two sides....kurds have nothing to do with this really. we just want to get rid of the pkk...

[Fenerliyim]

Again let God be on Kurds side, doesnt matter. Kurds fight for Turkey. Terrorists fight for PKK, God certainly isnt on their side.

[nb-legenda]

God is on no ones side hahaha... he already punished the middle east area for good. the place is the most hostile and violent place in the world. way to go... the most religious people get punished. thats a disgrace

[Fenerliyim]

two days ago we had bombed some targets with about 50 jets


today we have gone into iraq, we have sent 700 soldiers and 20 tanks into N.Iraq based on foriegn press

turkish press says we have sent in 1500 soldiers and 3 tanks

Hadi hayirlisi

[SiN]

Hadint we gone into iraq a while ago?

Or is this the official thing?

1500 is really nothing at the moment, they will just asses the area and see what we need, if we need the full force we will give it to those pkk bastards.

3 tanks? thats not that much.

But our jets will take care of alot of the problem :) I love the turkish milatary jets, they are amazing!

[Fenerliyim]

its the first time we've gone in officially, and with this many troops.

[SiN]

There is a estimated 2.5k pkk extremists in that area, so we better watch out, i dont want to see news reports of greaving families everyday!

[Turkish Delight]

Its just like when you have dog shit on the council strip part of your lawn, you can call the council to come clean it but they never will - so you what do you do, you go and do it yourself. May God protect our brave soldiers to clean this mess.

[SiN]

Well Said!!

[aslanlar]

ahahahhaha, very well said.

[Sebastian]

Arent they already invaded Iraq???I feel sorry for those Kurds...Actually all depends from U.S,they agreed and there you have it.After all Iraq is their"playground"...

[Sebastian]

No, absolutely not. Why should we? Occupying an American colony wouldn't solve a thing, on the contrary it would make the situation more complex.
However, "Why PKK can't be eliminated?" should be the question. It's obvious that PKK is "supported" and an invasion of Iraq will just be for nothing and it will be the repeat of what those American families lived through who had their sons killed. As you all know we in Turkey suffered from matyrs over decades very densely. War waging will just be a horrible waste when our economy is shit.
So a military action should be taken inside of Turkey, not outside. There are much more PKK activities inside of Turkey than the outside. Well we have been doing it for years and years and why didn't they disappear? Well, the answer to that contains many conspiracies (some i think is true) so i won't go into that.
The threat is inside of our country, so i say no.

If you want to Kill the Cancer you'll have to neutralize it's core...There is always the possibility of the Metastases reappearing,but it takes a decisive operation.America has other appetites than Turkey...Dont worry about them,as for Turkey this got out of hand and the newest victims "asked" for intensive response.The extremist arent that dumb to create their stronghold in Turkey.This operation isnt for nothing and it requires exact actions on already chosen targets.It's not improvising...I really dont get those extremists...Do they think they will accomplish something with this???I guess that's why they are nick named as Extremists...It's how it is...Some are extinct because the other are superior.Nothing is fair...That's reality.I am not saying that they should die without a fight,but...It's a suicide,one way or the other...

[Turkish Delight]

Its wrong for innocent people to die but the Kurds (not all) in Northern Iraq have been helping the PKK (instead of pushing them away) and therefore if you help a criminal/terrorist you are as guilty as they are (not to mention stupid) because now they have a very powerful military coming to visit .

[Fenerliyim]

TUNCELI, Turkey, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish guerrilla targets in northern Iraq on Saturday in a new cross-border offensive, the General Staff said.

The Turkish military said the offensive against outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas inside Turkey and across the border in northern Iraq would continue.

"Turkish Air Force warplanes struck important targets of the PKK/KONGRA-GEL terror group in northern Iraq ... between the hours of 14:25-15:00 (1225-1300 GMT)," the General Staff statement, posted on its website, said.

"The PKK will understand through experience that northern Iraq is not a safe place and they will understand once again that they have no chance against the Turkish military," it said.

Turkey says it has the right to use force to combat separatist rebels who shelter in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq and mount attacks in which they have killed dozens of Turkish troops in recent months.

But the United States and the European Union fear a further escalation in tension could destabilise the region.

The military said the Turkish warplanes returned safely to bases after the attacks. It said it was too early to give any casualty figures.

Iraqi Kurdish security forces said they had suffered no casualties in the bombing.

"The aerial bombardment didn't result in any people killed because the area is almost deserted because of fear of aerial and mortar attacks from the Turkish side," Jabbar Yawer, spokesman for Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga security forces, said.

The Turkish military said its ground forces fired on the same PKK targets two hours after the aerial bombardment.

Senior military sources in southeast Turkey told Reuters at least 10 warplanes participated in the air offensive, targeting approximately five areas where the PKK are believed to take refuge during the winter months.

NATO-member Turkey has stepped up its offensive against Kurdish guerrillas based in northern Iraq over the past week, launching two offensives, one involving 50 fighter jets on Dec. 16 and the other involving several hundred ground troops two days later.

U.S. intelligence shared with Turkey led to the Dec. 16 bombing raids, Turkey's ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday.

The General Staff said hundreds of PKK guerrillas were eliminated in the recent operations. No further details were provided.

Ankara blames the PKK -- considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union -- for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people since it began an armed struggle for a separate Kurdish homeland in 1984.

Turkey says 3,000 PKK fighters are based in camps in northern Iraq. (Reporting by Daren Butler and Thomas Grove in Istanbul, Sherko Raouf in Sulaimaniya, writing by Paul de Bendern; Editing by Giles Elgood)

[nb-legenda]

damn... you guys are really serious on attacking iraq. i hope this gets settled earlier than expected...

[DelijaZauvjek]

Why would Turkey attack Iraq??? You guys are both Muslims..Muslims never attack muslims... lol

[SiN]

Are you guys mentally retarded?

We are not attacking Iraqi people. We are in a war against PKK (Kurdish TERRORISTS)

How many times do we have to say that??